Pakistan Floods: Families Wade Through Waist-Deep Water to Retrieve Belongings

Residents in Ferozwala, Pakistan, are facing severe hardship as the Bhed Nullah has overflowed, inundating villages and forcing families to evacuate. Aslam, a resident of Rahim Colony, described wading through waist-deep water to reach his submerged home to collect essential items like clothes and bedding. He expressed frustration over the lack of government assistance since being displaced. Many other villagers, including Maqsood Ali from Ferozwala and Ramzan from Bhullay village, have also been forced to leave their homes, with some seeking refuge with relatives in higher ground or other cities like Lahore. Homes in areas such as Pathan Colony are reportedly submerged under four to five feet of water, with some experiencing even worse conditions. The flooding is attributed to frequent rains over the past week, causing nullahs like Bhed, Main Deg, Nikki Dege, and Main Hussri to swell beyond their capacities. For instance, Deg Nullah was flowing at 20,900 cusecs, exceeding its capacity of 19,361 cusecs. Officials from the Punjab irrigation department have blamed residents of Pathan Colony for allegedly making a "big cut" in the Bhed Nullah embankment to divert floodwaters, an accusation rejected by the locals who claim the breach was natural and occurred due to excessive water. They also stated that a protest was held after two teenagers drowned and rescue efforts were inadequate. Villages in Kamoki, Gujranwala, have also been affected by overflows from Hussri Drain and Nullah Deg, with residents requesting immediate government intervention to repair breaches. Rescue 1122 and relief organizations have established camps along the GT Road in Ferozwala, providing assistance, meals, and essential items to hundreds of displaced individuals daily. Sialkot district has also seen some villages affected by Aik Nullah, particularly in Pasrur and Daska, where 200mm of rain led to urban flooding.